Chemist Tomas Hudlicky awarded the R.U. Lemieux Award for 2014

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Chemist Tomas Hudlicky awarded the R.U. Lemieux Award for 2014

The award recognizes an organic chemist who has made a distinguished contribution to any area of organic chemistry and is currently working in Canada.

“This is a great honour,” says Hudlicky, who holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Organic Synthesis and Biocatalysis (the use of biological methods to manufacture chemicals).

Hudlicky and his research group focus on converting compounds that are often considered to be industrial wastes into compounds that can be used in pain and cancer medicines. Specifically, the researchers create synthetic versions of morphine and derivatives, Tamiflu-like drugs, and pancratistatin, a powerful anti-cancer agent.